Kansas in National Geographic Magazine

The April 2007 issue of National Geographic features some beautiful photos and a story on the Tallgrass Prairie of the Flint Hills.

Topeka Area ~ Ballroom Dance Opportunity

Jenn of the Topeka Area Homeschool Network has found an instructor who will teach Ballroom Dance classes during the day. She is willing to organize a class if there is enough interest.

Email tahn@prodigy.net for more details. She would like to schedule a class for April or May.

Another Great Wolf Lodge Opportunity

If you missed our Third Annual Area Homeschoolers Great Wolf Lodge Get-Away and can't wait to join us in February of 2008, they are having specials for homeschoolers through the months of April and May.

$109/Night (includes up to 4 waterpark passes)

Sunday - Thursday on Family Suites

Additional Charge for Friday and Saturdays

Mention Promotional Code KHOME at the time of reservation.

Offer Valid only at Great Wolf Lodge, Kansas City, KS, 4/1-5/31/07. Valid only on Family Suites. Offer is based on 4 guests. Rate is based on per night plus tax, based upon availability. Limited to the first 50 rooms sold per date. Holidays and black out dates may apply. May not be combined with any other discounts or promotional offers. Subject to change at any time without notice. Must mention promo code KHOME at time of reservations. Offer expires 5/31/07.

Contact 1.800.608.WOLF of visit www.greatwolf.com to make reservations.

Homeschoolers find University Doors Open

Thanks to Shelley R. for the link.

An associated press article talking about universities adjusting to make admissions policies more friendly for homeschoolers.

"Some private colleges have eagerly recruited those students for years and tailored application processes to include them. Homeschoolers still face challenges when applying to many public universities, but their chances of being considered are improving."

Have Kids - Will Travel

Please note that I am not endorsing this site, but it was recently brought to my attention and it certainly sparked my interest.

I would say the point of the website is primarily to market the book, but they offer a free newsletter and their archives are available online, as well.

Have Kids - Will Travel

In a class of their own

Article in the February 28, 2007 issue of The Harvard Crimson.

While I, personally, hate to think of the pressure these kids were put under to even get to Harvard, this article provides an interesting look into the lives of some of our "top" homeschoolers.

Home School Day at Worlds of Fun

Coming in August

Friday, August 24, 2007

Home School Instructors and Students, schedule thrills and family fun into your lesson plans for Friday, August 24, 2007. Home School Day at Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun offers great discounts on admission tickets and a meal option. Home School Day is the perfect opportunity to experience 235 acres of the region's greatest collection of wet and dry attractions.

Click here for details and pricing. (pdf file)

Third Annual Area Homeschoolers GWL Get-Away

KSHomeschool.net organized the gathering with
a total of 140+ attendees from across the state of Kansas.

We met new friends from:
Baldwin • Blue Springs • Dodge City • Edwardsville • Emporia • Gardner • Hutchinson
Kansas City KS • Lawrence • Lecompton • Lenexa • Manhattan • Osage City • Shawnee
Smithville MO • Spearville • Tonganoxie • Topeka • Wichita

"The 2007 trip to Great Wolf Lodge was really fun. We went to the arcade and went on the yellow slide many times. My friend Jennifer had never been to the Great Wolf Lodge so we went on all the slides. Me and my friends spent a lot of time in the hot tub." ~ Evie






"We just got home and are all happy and TIRED! We made new friends and got to spend time with old ones. We can't wait till next year!!" ~Claudia












"The kids had a blast making friends and wearing out the waterpark. I really enjoyed meeting such a wide variety of families and hearing brief histories of your homeschooling experiences. I went to meet perfect strangers, and left with a few new friends." ~Meg






"It was so nice meeting all of you finally! We had a great time, thanks for organizing this. We will definitely come back." ~ Stephanie


This is the closest we came to a group photo. I am sorry that my camera did not have the power to do such large group justice.

School? Not

An interview with Valerie Fitzenreiter, author of The Unprocessed Child, and her daughter, Laurie.

School? Not

Home School Days at Union Station

February 20-23, 2007
Special Rates for Union Station
General Admission: $6/person
Theater Admission: $3.50/Extreme Screen $5/Theatre for Young America
Dead Sea Scrolls: $10.95/person (Advanced reservations strongly recommended)

Current Extreme Screen Movies
Sharks 3D & Mystery of the Nile

Traveling Exhibit, Dead Sea Scrolls
February 8 - May 13

30 W. Pershing Road
Kansas City, MO
816-460-2020
unionstation.org

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Catching up with Unschooling in the News

'Unschool' parents: Kids can be own best teachers

Many educators fear free-form style leaves learning incomplete
from Tennesean.com 1/28/07

And a sidebar, Exact number who unschool hard to know


Unschooling Appeals to Some
from ThePilot.com 1/16/07

Territorial Kansas Online

1854-1861

A Virtual Repository for Territorial Kansas History

"Explore the turbulent times of "Bleeding Kansas." Hundreds of personal letters, diaries, photos, and maps bring to life the settling of Kansas during the fierce debate over slavery."

LEARNING | The whole community is a classroom for area students: Homeschoolers aren't homebound

A recent article from the Kansas City Star.

No core subjects, no imposed curricula? You must be unschooled

Apparently unschooling is the news to be written about these days. This article in the Sacramento Bee was published on January 11, 2007.

Forced to defend an unusual educational practice, unschoolers take great care as to how they describe it. Buchanan hedges a bit when asked if she's an unschooler. She does put books in front of her children from time to time, which is anathema to orthodox unschoolers.

I can't imagine that any unschooler would actually say the act of putting books in front of their children is so repugnant. Forcing them to read the books or giving them quizzes about what they learn from the books -- that's another story. Perhaps I am reading too literally.

Kansas Communities on the Web

If you are looking for information about a specific town in Kansas, this website seems to be a good place to start.

You Have to Trust that the Child will Learn

This article posted at The Natural Child Project was first published in The Chicago Sun-Times in December 2006.

Overall, this is a very positive article on unschooling. Even though the focus of the article is on a high-achieving unschooler who has gained early admittance into Princeton, the author writes, "But just like traditional schoolers, not all unschoolers want college."

Thanks to Nancy for the link.

Schools kill Creativity

Well worth 20 minutes of your time, this commentary on education, by Sir Ken Robinson, talks about creativity and the need to rethink the standard operating mode of public schools.

Click Here to view Video.

Fifth Annual Spring Contest for Young Writers

an invitation from Dorothy Masters, This and That Columnist

Pen me a poem, write me a story, fiction or non-fiction, use the computer or write by hand. You pick the subject, it is your work! Any writing talent you care to share with me will work for my contest in the spring. If the younger children would like to enter, tell your story in picture form.

I will ask members of the Kansas Authors Club to help judge the entries to award engraved medals for your effort. Sharpen up your wit and show your best writing talent with poetry, prose or art work. If there is any interest, I will ask my editors to print the prize winners again this year, but I need to hear if anyone does or does not want their work printed. If you want it printed in a local paper in my weekly column, write me a note, sign your name and have your parents sign to give me permission to print your work. Send a comment to me and the editor of your paper if the general public enjoys reading the children’s work in your local paper.

Any child is eligible through high school level including home schooled children. Entries must be in my hands by March 1, 2007.

Be sure and put your name and address on your work so I can notify you of the winners. Keep a copy of entries; your work may not be returned to you because the vast amount of entries..

Send to: Dorothy Masters
13842 High-way K- 31
Harveyville, Kansas 66431

Telephone 1-785-589-2552
Email: masters1936@earthlink.net

The subject is wide open, let you imagination soar and tell a great story or spell out a life lesson. Good human interest stories cover many topics and a wide range of ideas. Your pets make wonderful stories to share. There is no limit as to number of words; it is the thought content that matters.

There will be a new category this year because of Burlingame Rodeo Days in May. The Rodeo Days Planners have asked me to add a category to my youth writing contest to promote some interest about the Burlingame Community with the writing of many historical points of the area. Mr. James Nelson has agreed to teach a workshop on how to do Historical Research. More about that class will follow, be thinking about what aspect of the history you would like to research.
For historical facts, consider interviewing your parents, grandparents and older friends to collect their stories and memories of significant persons, places or events in Burlingame and the surrounding area; they are great resources of the past.

The Kansas Collection

Online, searchable.

The Kansas Collection

"The voices of the past are heard again in KanColl, through nearly-lost books, letters, diaries, photographs, and other materials."